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Student Activities

It's Cool to Be Kind

Knitting's not just your grandmother's hobby anymore. Since 1998, there has been a 400-percent increase in the number of people under 35 who knit and crochet, with 53 million knitters and crocheters in the United States alone. Just flip on the television and you'll hear about avid celebrity knitters, including Rosario Dawson, Cameron Diaz, Katherine Heigl, Dakota and Elle Fanning, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

Every knitter's work is unique. It takes concentration, patience, and attention to detail, but knitting is a great way to express your individuality while creating something beautiful—and practical! The craft of knitting is fun to learn and has quick, tangible results.

Put your first knitting project to great use!

Before diving into creating your own skinny scarf using the pattern included with this program, you'll start with a simple project—a 7" x 9" rectangle—that will help you learn and practice a few basic stitches. And this little rectangle can have a big impact.

What good is a knitted rectangle?

The Warm Up America! Foundation collects donations of knitted rectangles from people like you nationwide. Then volunteers sew the colorful rectangles into blankets and afghans that are given to people in homeless shelters, teen pregnancy homes, battered women's shelters, nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, and clinics, and to national nonprofit agencies such as the American Red Cross. If you prefer, your class can even sew their own rectangles together and donate the afghan in your own community!

It's easy to do your part:

Share your knitting know-how with younger students and help them create rectangles of their own.

Knit a Skinny Scarf

From the characters on Gossip Girl to real-life celebrities, the skinny scarf has become a must-wear item. Drew Barrymore, Victoria Beckham, Lourdes Leon, and Jessica Alba have all been spotted wearing striped scarves like the one featured in this pattern.Download the Pattern